Cockburn and Melville councils have taken opposing stances on the extension of Roe Highway to Stock Road, but with Melville taking on North Lake, Bibra Lake and Coolbellup under the State’s plan on local government reform, there are concerns the resistance currently put up by Cockburn would be shattered.
‘The City of Melville does support Roe 8, so it would be easier for the State Government to progress forward with their Roe 8 objective (if reform went through),’ City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said.
‘The City believes more work needs to be done to justify the project on transport-related grounds (traffic modelling) and there has been no commitment to address the flow-on traffic impacts which are clearly evident as well as the environmental justification.’
Save Beeliar Wetlands spokeswoman Nandi Chinna said the extension would result in a replication of the traffic problems Melville already experienced in its own council area.
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READ NOWMelville Mayor Russell Aubrey said that while his City backed the extension, the Beeliar Wetlands would be protected.
‘Traffic experts agree that the increased pressure on our roads, particularly in regards to access to the massive hospital site at Murdoch, means it is inevitable that the Roe Highway extension to Stock Road will be built sooner or later,’ he said.
‘Melville will work determinedly with the State Government bodies and local community groups to ensure the magnificent Beeliar Wetlands receives the level of environmental protection it deserves.’